TTUTA REJECTS MOE’S TRAINING PLAN

posted 11 May 2012, 19:46 by Gerry Kangalee

TTUTA
calls on teachers of Standards Four and Five in the Primary Schools to report
to their schools on Monday May 14, 2012 and teach their classes as usual.
Teachers should not leave their schools to participate in the proposed
‘mandatory’ training sessions of the Ministry of Education (MOE) for the
Continuous Assessment Component (CAC) of the SEA.

The
MOE sent out a training programme on May 08 which would have teachers of
Standards Four and Five in the primary schools engage in two (2) days of
training per subject area, six subject (6) areas for Standard Four and seven
subject (7) areas for Standard Five. This amounts to some twelve (12) to
fourteen (14) near consecutive days of training respectively, including
Saturdays, Sundays and the Corpus Christi Public Holiday, for which these
teachers would be away from their schools over a two (2) month period.

The
Association has grave concerns with this training programme:

There
has been no consultation with TTUTA, the legally recognized majority trade
union, on this training programme even though it attempts to trample on the
terms and conditions of service of teachers;

The
inclusion in the circulated schedule of ‘mandatory’ training of sessions
outside of the normal working week on Saturdays and Sundays (May 19, May 20,
June 16, June 17, June 23, June 24) as well as on a public holiday, Corpus
Christi (June 07), is totally unacceptable;

Twelve
to Fourteen near consecutive days of training for teachers of Standard Four and
Standard Five would severely tax the ability of schools to provide adequate
supervision or make alternative arrangements for these classes without teachers
during this extended period. It would also hamper the preparation of schools
for End of Year school activities including the National Test for Standard Four
and co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. There will be a severe loss
of teaching time and disruption in all primary schools for two (2) months;

No
arrangements have been proposed for the payment to teachers of the relevant
allowances consistent with current agreements between the Chief Personnel
Officer (CPO) and TTUTA for any work away from the school compound during
working hours;

The
Association has grave doubts about the adequacy, thoroughness and effectiveness
of this ‘crash’ training programme involving two (2) days in each subject area.

TTUTA
had previously expressed its concerns with the rushed approach of the MOE
towards the institution of a Continuous Assessment Component of the SEA in 2013.
There is no comprehensive, documented plan by the MOE to support such
implementation.

There
is need for the proper training of teachers in areas such as Physical Education
and the Visual and Performing Arts. There is a vast disparity in the teaching
resources available to schools throughout the country for the teaching of the
different subject areas and so schools are not on ‘a level playing field’.

As well, there is need for special attention
to issues concerning the reliability, validity and standardization of these
internal assessment components over the five hundred plus primary schools
throughout the country, if the assessment is to be meaningful and fair to all
the nation’s children.

On
learning of this ill advised training programme, TTUTA had written to the MOE
yesterday, May 10, pointing out its concerns and requesting an urgent meeting
with the Permanent Secretary of the MOE but this approach has been rebuffed.

TTUTA
will not allow teachers to be subjected to an improper, ill-conceived training
programme, which would achieve nothing except disrupt the primary schools for
the months of May and June and satisfy the political expediency of the Minister
of Education.

TTUTA
demands proper consultation and agreement with the Association on any proposed
training programme for teachers, especially where it infringes on the terms and
conditions of service of teachers, which are negotiated between the CPO and
TTUTA.

Further,
TTUTA calls for proper consultation with TTUTA, other stakeholders and the
entire national community on fundamental changes in education policy. Education
is not the private property of the Minister of Education!

TTUTA
advises the national community that teachers of Standards Four and Five in the
Primary Schools will be reporting to their classes as usual on Monday May 14
and will not be participating in any ‘force-ripe’ mandatory training programme
on the Continuous Assessment Component of the SEA.